WA Meadwerks, which opened September 2018, is the newest and only meadery on Long Island. Founded by Joseph Abruzzo and Roger Wanner, the taproom is located 26 West Hoffman in Lindenhurst. Mead (wine made from honey) can be made with fruits, spices, and anything in between. The styles range from dry to sweet, typically gluten-free, with an ABV from 4.5% to 16%. WA Meadwerks encompasses these styles through the 16 meads available on tap including ResQmead (Raspberry & Strawberry), MitterNacht (off-dry Honey & Black currant aged with French Oak), and Black n Blue Pit O’misery (Blackberry & Blueberry with lactose). Abruzzo was a mead enthusiast and homebrewer for almost two years before he decided to open up a business with his partner Wanner. The name of the meadery holds a symbolic meaning to the owners. The “W” and “A” is an abbreviation of Wanner and Abruzzo, while the logo represents a Viking meaning: “Where there’s a Will, there’s a way.” “Every time we came across a problem, we had to fix it or make things easier,” Abruzzo said. “When we were homebrewers, we ran into an issue with temperature control and built a glycol chiller from an air conditioning unit.” Abruzzo says running his nano meadery has had some challenges. “Being creative is hard. We have so many off-the-wall ideas, like making a Sour Mead, that sometimes finding balance is tough,” Abruzzo said. “And recently the government shut down has been difficult with us getting our recipe submissions approved.” Despite common hurdles new businesses endure, WA Meadwerks is already planning for the future. The owners are currently making a chocolate mead, a currant mead, and a creamsicle mead. WA Meadwerks is open Thursday through Sunday and self-distributes to select locations locally, with hopes to be available in more locations by this...

Ghostfish Brewing Company announced a new distribution partnership with Crooked Stave Artisans Distributing. This relationship will facilitate Ghostfish beer to be available within nearly all areas within the state of Colorado. Crooked Stave Artisans Distributing (CSA) will start off distributing draught and package versions of Ghostfish Brewing’s award-winning dedicated gluten-free beers including Grapefruit IPA, Meteor Shower Blonde Ale, and Shrouded Summit Belgian White Ale, as well as seasonal and limited releases as they are available. “We’re thrilled to be working with such a prestigious company such as CSA. Their reach within Colorado was an important factor, but it was their finely curated portfolio and positive reputation in the beer savvy Colorado market that attracted us the most to them. They have a great sales team, service the majority of the state, and their craft beer knowledge is second to none in Colorado.,” Brian Thiel, co-owner and Director of Sales & Marketing, said. “From the moment we first tasted the Grapefruit IPA and Shrouded Summit White Ale, we knew Ghostfish had achieved something exceptional with their approach to gluten free beer. The Ghostfish team are committed to making great beer for all beer drinkers. Their creativity and innovation are pushing the boundaries of craft beer with their use of unconventional grains, and we are truly excited to partner with them here in Colorado,” Alan Stone, CSA Brand Manager, said. This move represents an interesting homecoming for Ghostfish Brewing as the majority of owners have strong personal ties to Colorado and a significant percentage of brewing malts originated as grains grown by Colorado farmers. “We can’t claim to be local, but ‘Colorado-based DNA’ is prevalent in Ghostfish beers. The majority of ownership in Ghostfish has lived previously or currently has residency in Colorado. Perhaps the most compelling story is the fact that a large portion of the grains we use to produce our beer our grown and malted/roasted in Colorado then shipped and crafted into artisanal beers in Seattle and now sent back in finished packages for consumers to enjoy throughout Colorado,” Thiel said. Randy Schroeder, Ghostfish co-owner and Director of Operations has spent most of his life living in the mountains of Colorado between Golden and Evergreen. “I’ve spent by far the majority of my years there,” Schroeder said. “It still holds a big piece of my heart, along with...

WA Meadwerks, which opened September 2018, is the newest and only meadery on Long Island. Founded by Joseph Abruzzo and Roger Wanner, the taproom is located 26 West Hoffman in Lindenhurst. Mead (wine made from honey) can be made with fruits, spices, and anything in between. The styles range from dry to sweet, typically gluten-free, with an ABV from 4.5% to 16%. WA Meadwerks encompasses these styles through the 16 meads available on...

Ghostfish Brewing Company announced a new distribution partnership with Crooked Stave Artisans Distributing. This relationship will facilitate Ghostfish beer to be available within nearly all areas within the state of Colorado. Crooked Stave Artisans Distributing (CSA) will start off distributing draught and package versions of Ghostfish Brewing’s award-winning dedicated gluten-free beers including Grapefruit IPA, Meteor Shower Blonde...

In just a few days, I will be on my way to the 36th Great American Beer Festival [GABF] in Denver, Colorado. This will be my second brewventure to GABF! Last year, I planned on visiting gluten-free and gluten-reduced breweries outside of GABF. However, the festival itself was so incredibly overwhelming (even for a New Yorker like myself) that I was only about to taste what was available during festival sessions. With over 3,000 beers...

May marks Celiac Disease Awareness Month across the U.S., aiding support for celiacs and research for this disease. Celiac disease is a serious genetic autoimmune disorder where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine. According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, an estimate of 1 in 100 people worldwide are affected by celiac disease. Two and one-half million Americans are undiagnosed and are at risk for...

As someone with a gluten-allergy, many people ask me what I drink at beer festivals. Although I am no able to taste everything, there are a great number of beers and ciders I can try if I know what to look for. Not all festivals have many options, but Blue Point Cask Ale Festival is one the best ones for Celiacs to attend. This year’s festival took place on Saturday, April 22 at Blue Point Brewery and it was expected to be the...

Once again, I’m pouring at Hops & Props on Feb. 11 at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City. Last year Jason Scott and I brewed a 6% gluten-free beer, so this year, I brewed a cider instead. I had originally planned to bring my Cosmo-inspired cider, but it isn’t ready so look out for it at the next festival! If you missed my Instagram post, check out the ingredients I added to it. Bringing “Sex in...

This week, I head out to Denver for the sold-out 35th Great American Beer Festival [GABF], a brewventure that I have been looking forward to for the last 8 years. GABF will have 3,800 beers from more than 800 breweries packed from Oct 6-8. Tasting gluten-free/gluten-reduced beers all in one spot is a Celiac’s dream, but as glorious as this seems, there are still only a handful of places out of the 20 breweries in Colorado that I...

There are only a few more weeks until the unofficial end of summer beer festival season and the start of Oktoberfest season. I put together a list of my “go-to” six-pack of gluten-free friendly beer and cider that you can take to BBQs and beach parties. This great tasting six also satisfies the taste buds of those who are not gluten-free, but want to try something new and delicious! 1. Dogfish Head Tweason’Ale Gluten...

As a graphic designer and brewer, I notice ads and commercial spots related to beer, especially craft beer. The marketing for these ads, which range from festivals and new beers to grand openings of breweries, typically have a clear understanding of the audience in the beer community. When I first came across the “King of the Hop” contest ad in Grand Central, I immediately noticed that the competition as a whole was lacking a true...